The mystery of pain : a book for the sorrowful / by James Hinton.

  • Hinton, James, 1822-1875.
Date:
1866
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The mystery of pain : a book for the sorrowful / by James Hinton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    96/120 (page 88)
    yet an inevitable inversion of thought, while the affections had not as yet fully recog- nised the joy that is in sacrifice, nor faith apprehended the relation of all human life to the unseen work that God does in man. It was thus asceticism arose, seeking pain as good, self-denial as an end ; and thus it failed. But the lesson it teaches remains for us. There is good in that which we find painful: the human soul does and will recog- nise it; nor can luxury, nor scorn, nor the history of innumerable ills wrought by pursu- ing pain, prevent. Man’s soul recurs to it in spite of experience, in spite of enlightenment, in spite of ease. Surely one thing alone can cure asceticism of its error, and free mankind from its dangers ; and that is, to recognise the true nature of the good that is in sacrifice; that it is good, not for itself, nor because it involves pain, but pre- cisely because it is not for itself, and is the true root of pleasure. If this be recognised, asceticism cannot again arise to distort life and tax humanity beyond its powers; the elements of our nature in which it has its root